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Pet Food, Fish Bait, and Animal Feed

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USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and USDA APHIS Veterinary

Services (VS) issue permits for the importation of regulated organisms used for pet

food, animal feed and fish bait into the continental United States. Several species of

invertebrate organisms fall into this category and are regulated by USDA because

they are plant pests, vector livestock diseases or may transport pathogens and

agricultural pests into the United States. 

Several species of invertebrate organisms fall into this category and are regulated

by USDA because they are plant pests, vector livestock diseases or may transport

pathogens and agricultural pests into the United States. The import permits issued

have specific rearing requirements and/or treatments that mitigate the agricultural

pest risk associated with each specific organism. The following text describes the

import requirements for several organisms and also presents a list of plant pests

that may move interstate without a plant pest permit or veterinary services permit.

Decision on whether to apply for an APHIS PPQ Form 526 Plant Pest Permit or VS 16-

6 permit is dependent upon the livestock disease status of county of origin of the

imported organism. 

NOTE: The disease status can change at any time. If you are unsure of which form to

submit, contact PPQ or VS:
USDA APHIS PPQ Pest Permit Unit - Telephone: (301) 851-2357 or Email 

pest.permits@aphis.usda.gov

USDA, APHIS, VS - Telephone (301) 851-3300 or Email apie@usda.gov

Import Animal Products

Veterinary Services Permitting Assistant

Import Permits

Earthworms: Earthworms are soil dwelling segmented round worms most often

used as fish bait in the United States. Detailed guidance and policy for importing

earthworms are provided at the link above.

Insects

Crickets: Crickets feed on a wide range of living and dead plant material and plant

products. There are no permits required for the interstate movement of Acheta

domesticus, an industry staple, within the continental United States. APHIS

authorizes the importation from Canada, under permit. We also require a certificate

signed by a Canadian Federal or Provincial official certifying that he/she has visited

the facility and verified that it is producing this species. However, a virus, brought

into the North America from Europe decimated Acheta domesticus production in

both Canada and the United States. At first, some producers switched to Gryllus

assimilis but production problems, State opposition and problems with customer

acceptance led to a shift to Gryllodes sigillatus. We now only authorize the interstate

movement of both species (no importation) within the continental United States

under APHIS permit.

Silkworms: Silkworm larvae, Bombyx mori, may be imported under permit into the

continental United States. Each shipment must be accompanied by an export

certificate (zoosanitary certificate) from the government of the exporting country.

The insect species must be confirmed by a qualified person prior to shipment. No

soil or plant materials may be included in shipments. No permit is required for the

interstate movement of silkworms within the continental United States. 

Butterworms: Butterworms, Chilecomadia moorei, are the insect larvae of a plant

feeding moth found in Chile. They are large, bright yellow larvae and feed on
Dasyphyllum diacanthoides, a large tree in the family Asteraceae. Conditions and

treatments authorizing entry into the continental United States were negotiated with

the Chilean government. All larvae are irradiated no more than 5 days prior to

shipping at a government inspected facility and are accompanied by an original

certificate of irradiation. The irradiation treatment prevents the larvae from molting

to an adult. Permit conditions provide contact information for the USDA National

Specialist in Lepidoptera who can confirm irradiation.

Mealworms: Mealworms, Tenebrio molitor, are insect larvae that feed on wheat

meal and are believed to be ubiquitous. They are considered to be indirect plant

pests because they can impact the quality of stored grain. The import

requirements/treatments are similar to that of earthworms being designed to

preclude contact with manure and soil. They can only be fed sterilized food 15 days

prior to shipping and cannot be in contact with soil or manure during their entire

rearing procedures.

Superworms: “Superworms,” Zophobas morio, are darkling beetles that feed on

many plants, stored grains, and other plant material. Importation is not allowed

because they are such general feeders on many types of living and dead plant

material, species identification is an issue, contamination with other material is a

concern and there is a large domestic industry producing them. Interstate

movement of Zophobas morio grown within the continental United States does not

require a permit.

Other Invertebrate Organisms

USDA APHIS VS regulates canned, freeze dried and field collected invertebrate

organisms imported for pet food if these organisms are from countries that are

deemed positive for diseases of veterinary concern. Please see contact information

above regarding VS requirements.

Exemption from Interstate Movement Permits

No plant pest permits are required for the interstate movement of the following

organisms within the continental United States: Acheta domestica, Bombyx mori,

Drosophila melanogaster, Galleria mellonella, Gromphadorhina portentosa,

Hippodamia convergens, Odontotaenius disjunctus, Spirobolus spp, Tenebrio molitor,

Tribolium confusum and Zophobas morio.
For questions about permits for regulated organisms and soil:

Pest Permits Team

Email: pest.permits@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-2285

Alt-Phone: 866-524-5421

For general requests:

Animal Product Import and Export Team

Email: apie@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3300

Note:

Email is preferred.